Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger

Moving from Affluence to Generosity

By: Ron Sider

Narrated by: Dave Heath

Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Do you want to make a true difference in the world? Dr. Ron Sider does. He has, since before he first published Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger in 1978. Despite a dramatic reduction in world hunger since then, 34,000 children still die daily of starvation and preventable disease, and 1.3 billion people, worldwide, remain in abject poverty.

So, the professor of theology went back to re-examine the issues by 21st-century standards. Finding that Conservatives blame morally reprehensible individual choices, and Liberals blame constrictive social and economic policy, Dr. Sider finds himself agreeing with both sides. In this new look at an age-old problem, he offers not only a detailed explanation of the causes, but also a comprehensive series of practical solutions, in the hopes that Christians like him will choose to make a difference.

©2005 Ronald J. Sider (P)2010 christianaudio.com

This book had me thinking about change in my life.

I loved this book. it's a life changer. This book is a must for all Christians.

Great book!

Very convicting in a positive, Christian line of sight. This book has helped guide me towards a career focused on empowering the poor.

Couldn't get passed the 2nd Chapter

Any additional comments?

The first chapter can be summed up as "such and such happened and if only there was money for it, the problem would have been solved". Not all problems can be solved by throwing money at them ... there are a multitude of factors that contribute to poverty.

The second chapter essentially says "the west buys too many things it doesn't need, if it took that money and used it toward to poor things would be better." (It never directly says these things but you can easily read between the lines.)

I'm glad that I read "When Helping Hurts" first or I would have been turned off by those talking about poverty alleviation.

A spiritual gut check

Even though the statistics are outdated, 10+ years…the premise still holds true. it might even ring more true today when it was written, knowing that the principles that Ron is sharing stand the test of time. Ron did an incredible job outlining scripture both in the Old and New Testament. This book gives you a great spiritual gut check and is absolutely worth it, no matter your age.

A Must Read for every Christian and non-Christian

A combination of theological, economic, social, political, and practical next steps for what it looks like to live as a Christian in America and in the world today. Sider's book touches on both what we need to do and why we need to do it.

Too politically motivated

Everything I heard in the beginning of the book was about what all the world health organization has to say which completely turns me off because of who & what that organization represents.

Christians need to hear, but some concerns

I agree that Christians need to stop parroting that market capitalism doesn’t have some serious issues that as Christians we should want to address in the name of the poor. I really liked his reflections on the jubilee and what that might say to rich Christians. I completely agree that at a minimum it says there are national dangers to extreme wealth differences. The solutions, though, can’t involve stealing from others, but changing hearts. I think he had a lot of powerful and pertinent things to say in this regard.
He didn’t support the jump from personal Christian responsibility to government responsibility. I don’t see that leap in Scripture unless he is advocating a theocracy, which I don’t think he is.
Everything on Global warming, though, was slanted and could use perspective. Not sure the case can be made that Ron is assuming. Unnecessarily curbing fossil fuels will likely hurt the poor more than it will help. Renewables increase dependency on gas. There is just a lot to unpack that can’t go into a review but exists within both liberal and conservative sources.

Very devotional study

This is one of the most meaningful, spiritual, and educational Christian books I’ve ever read!

Be the change

This book is a convicting reminder that Christians have the responsibility to follow Christ’s example of caring for the poor. To do nothing would be wrong, and to willfully live in ignorance of the oppression happening around the world is wrong as well. We too often forget how much we have compared to the poor around the world.